motivation and values

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When we humans do make an effort to change our habits, like giving up drinking or eating too much chocolate, why is it that we so often fall back into those habits?

The reason, according to US psychiatrist Professor Jeffrey M Schwartz, is that even if we change our behaviour, the bad habit is still there the whole time, hidden in the brain.

With habits, the brain is literally running on automatic.

But I found there are ways we can use neuroscience to unlearn those bad habits and foster new ones.

Unlearning habits

To change our habits, we need to activate a part of the brain called the ventromedial prefontal cortex, which is simply the part of the brain that processes risk and fear. It also plays a role in decision-making and habits.

A really interesting study by Emily Falk at the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg School for Communication found a simple intervention — reflecting on your core values — activates that part of the brain.

Lick, eat, sleep, repeat: Cats spend around a quarter of their waking hours grooming themselves. A new study shows how hundreds of sharp tongue spines help domestic cats — and their big cat cousins — smear saliva deep into their own fur, to remove dirt and keep cool.

One upside of the regularity of high school life is that it can make finding friends easier. That's over now. It's going to take courage and be awkward but here are some ways to find new mates and maintain a good support network outside the schoolyard.